Photo: US Army / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Born on April 15, 1943 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, Hugh Thompson Jr. was a military aviator and helicopter pilot. Hugh Thompson Jr. died on January 6, 2006 at the age of 62. Schooling on record includes Stone Mountain High School and Troy University. Awards on record include Distinguished Flying Cross, Soldier's Medal (1998), Bronze Star Medal and 5 more.
My Take
Hugh Thompson Jr. is the kind of figure I wish more people knew by name. His chestful of medals is impressive, but what moves me is the single decision behind them: landing his helicopter at My Lai and turning his guns on his own countrymen to protect Vietnamese villagers. That is not heroism of the loud, cinematic sort. It is the quiet, terrifying courage to say no when everyone around you has said yes. He was shunned for years before being honored. To me, Thompson is proof that conscience, exercised in the worst possible moment, is the rarest and most valuable thing a human can carry.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Hugh Thompson Jr.
- Name (Japanese)
- ヒュー・トンプソン (軍人)
- Reading
- ひゅー・とんぷそん (軍人)
- Born
- April 15, 1943 – January 6, 2006
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aries / Goat
- Origin
- Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Occupation
- military aviator / helicopter pilot
2. Background
- High school
- Stone Mountain High School
- University
- Troy University
Awards & achievements
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- 1998 Soldier's Medal
- Bronze Star Medal
- Purple Heart
- Air Medal
- National Defense Service Medal
- Vietnam Service Medal
- Vietnam Campaign Medal
3. Links
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh%20Thompson%20Jr.
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q719138
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Hugh Thompson Jr. born?
Born April 15, 1943.
When did Hugh Thompson Jr. die?
Died January 6, 2006, aged 62.
Where was Hugh Thompson Jr. from?
Hugh Thompson Jr. was from Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
What did Hugh Thompson Jr. do?
Hugh Thompson Jr. worked as military aviator, helicopter pilot.